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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
100 pages in and nothing is happening. There’s mention of the California drought. There’s something about a burglary and a missing son and some IRS investigation, but nothing has happened. I skimmed chapters & chapters and I was still bored out of my mind, so I read the last 10 pages which sort of wrapped it up and finally put it down. Don’t feel like I missed out on anything.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spending a few days hanging out with your old friend Kinsey Millhone is always a pleasure.
Typical Kinsey Millhone mystery. You'll like it or you won't - and since we're 24 books into the series, most readers will know where they fall.
There were a few issues of failed "Chekov's Gun" scenarios where something mentioned in one act didn't come back around later as I expected. It's always interesting to see someone get past Kinsey with a scheme and this book had that several times. The way she handles it and recovers is always well executed.
Also, since the beginning of the series, I wondered what "X" would stand for, since that's the series' conceit. "A is for Alibi" and so on. X wasn't for anything. Sure, plenty of names with "X" showed up in the book but it was a little disappointing.
There were a few issues of failed "Chekov's Gun" scenarios where something mentioned in one act didn't come back around later as I expected. It's always interesting to see someone get past Kinsey with a scheme and this book had that several times. The way she handles it and recovers is always well executed.
Also, since the beginning of the series, I wondered what "X" would stand for, since that's the series' conceit. "A is for Alibi" and so on. X wasn't for anything. Sure, plenty of names with "X" showed up in the book but it was a little disappointing.
To start, a few issues. She was so descriptive in some areas of the book (great for imagining the scene in excruciating detail) but points were unnecessarily belabored. Second, there were too many plot points. While she neatly ties them up at the end, I found myself trying to recount everything I needed to know about the 3 different story lines (that were not remotely connected in any way other than by the protagonist).
Overall, she’s a great writer. I think it should’ve been shortened and eliminated, at minimum, one of the story lines.
Overall, she’s a great writer. I think it should’ve been shortened and eliminated, at minimum, one of the story lines.
I listened to this series start to finish in 2016. What am going to do in 2017?
Could be one of the more forgettable books in the series, which hurts me to say since there's only one left and I'd prefer to keep up with Kinsey until she's 90.
The heist story was anti-climactic, the Ned Lowe story was stale, and the new neighbors seemed like a dim reflection of stories past. I understand that exposition is crucial to any story but I find it hard to swallow that people open up and reveal things to Kinsey so easily in great detail. Everyone tells a great story! And so trusting. Who solicits a complete stranger to check on their stepmother's mental state?
Anyway, I will be very sad when the series ends. X is just not my fave.
The heist story was anti-climactic, the Ned Lowe story was stale, and the new neighbors seemed like a dim reflection of stories past. I understand that exposition is crucial to any story but I find it hard to swallow that people open up and reveal things to Kinsey so easily in great detail. Everyone tells a great story! And so trusting. Who solicits a complete stranger to check on their stepmother's mental state?
Anyway, I will be very sad when the series ends. X is just not my fave.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated